The Costa de la Luz
 |
|
The park is in the province of Tarifa on the coast of light, Costa de la Luz. This coast starts at
the Gibraltar straights where the Costa del Sol ends and goes all the way up to Portugal. Most of it is in the province of
Tarifa and all of it enjoys miles of golden beaches. This southern coast of Spain is
the most natural of all in the country and almost totally unspoilt by over development. Building is
restricted to two stories and there are huge areas of greenbelt, natural parks & protected areas.
|
The park itself is just a few Kilometers directly inland from the little fishing village of Zahara de los Atunes,
which as the
name suggests is famous for the tuna fish that are caught here. The Japanese send a fleet here
every year during the season, the fish is that good.
The village has expanded over the last few years as the tourist trade has boomed but it still keeps
its charm and rural quality. Further along the coast to the south is a little more developed and
there are various urbanisations and a larger 5 star hotel, this is Atlantera, the most developed
area on this stretch of coast
Moving even further down the coast and round the next headland is the village of Bolonia, a tiny
village of just one shop and a hotel and a dozen beach bars and restaurants. The beach here is
fabulous, contained in a wide bay with mountains on either side the golden sandy beach ends in a
huge dune to the north. The town is well established as in Roman times there was a large town here
with a harbour and an anchovy fish factory, the anchovies and there sauce being shipped all over the
roman empire. Now the ruins have been excavated and one can see the extent of the ancient town.
Moving further down to the very edge of Europe, just 13km from the African coast is the town of
Tarifa. Made famous of late for its popularity with wind and kite surfers, it is a trendy and
popular place for people of all nationalities to visit. It too is steeped in history, with much of
the old Moorish town still to be seen, and a museum in its old castle. There is even a castle still
standing by the port from the time of the Crusades, built by knights in a totally different style to
anything else in the area.
The town has a busy port and there is an hourly ferry for foot passengers and cars to Tangiers in
Morocco, just half an hour ride away. You can also join the whale watch trips from here or pick up a
sport fishing boat as the straights of Gibraltar are teeming with life and movement.
From Tarifa to the other end of the straights you come to their namesake, Gibraltar, a great place
for a day out and a popular place for ex-patriots to visit Marks & Spencer or Safeway to stock up
on those essential and particularly British items. The rock boasts the only indigenous monkeys in
Europe. When visiting them you can ride the cable car to the top and see the stunning views to both Spain
and across to Africa as far as the Atlas mountains.
Beyond Gibraltar lies the adjacent Costa del Sol, famous for its tourism and home
to towns such as Marbella and Torremolinos. This is also where you may fly in to Malaga airport for
the UK. The site will run coach trips here on a frequent basis, to Malaga and or Marbella subject to
demand.
Going back to the park and working our way more Northwards up the Costa de la Luz, we pass the town
of Barbate and reach the point of Trafalgar, with its prominent lighthouse. A popular spot with
historical enthusiasts, especially after passing the bicentenary of the famous battle just last
year. From here on up to Tarifa there are fantastic golden sandy beaches stretching on for miles and
miles, like those of El Palmar and Conil.
Tarifa itself is a beautiful town and hugely historically significant, with beautiful old buildings,
streets and squares which are home to countless tapas bars and restaurants. There is plenty to see
and do in this harbour town, especially at carnival time when the town is packed with revellers and
the atmosphere is charged with fun. A town you will want to go back to again and again.
Around Tarifa the coast is much more built up, with huge docks to the south and to the north Puerto
Santa Maria a very popular Spanish holiday resort. Moving beyond this you arrive in the province of
Huelva, the northern part of the Costa de la Luz, which starts with a huge national park, Donana,
know for its birds and the flat marshy lands that attracts them, often seen full of Flamingos.
The Costa de la Luz ends a little further on with the town of Huelva, which borders Portugal and the
Algarve. Huelva town is also ancient and historic and the province that it is capital of is
beautiful and unspoilt with national parks and beautiful countryside. |
About Us: Established 1975